Phone Comparisons: Motorola Droid Turbo vs Google Nexus 6

Introduction

This is the comparison we have all been waiting for – the brand new Motorola Droid Turbo versus the new Google Nexus 6…also by Motorola. This is going to be an interesting comparison to see how Motorola put out two flagships, one for Verizon and the other for Google – what is the same, what is different and which device will win this comparison challenge. I can honestly say the I do not know the winner at this point…I will have to take a long look at the specifications, design and features before I can come to any conclusion. These two devices are so similar in so many ways, it will really come down to a couple features to determine the winner, and those differences are where you will have to make your own choice.

Both devices sport a Quad HD (QHD) display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and both displays use the AMOLED technology…the Nexus 6 is close to an inch larger. The Droid Turbo and the Nexus 6 both use the exact same processor and the best on the market – Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805 quad-core clocked at 2.7GHz…the same one found only in the Galaxy Note 4. Both come with 3GB of RAM and both have either 32GB or 64GB of internal storage available and neither one has room for expansion of that memory. Both have a front-facing camera (FFC) that sports 2MP – for video chatting and social media selfies.

Both devices carry the usual suspects – Wi-Fi, NFC capable, Bluetooth (4.0 on the Droid Turbo and 4.1 on the Nexus 6), and a MicroUSB port for charging and data transfer. They both have a nano-coating for dust and water resistance, both can use the Motorola Turbo Charger, both have wireless charging and both are built like a tank.

Please take a close look at the detailed specifications below and then we will explore each device individually to determine its pros and cons – from there, we will pick a winner in this comparison.

Specifications

Motorola Droid Turbo

The Motorola Droid Turbo just hit the streets and it looks like it will be a force to be reckoned with – and why not…it has the looks, the specs, and the heritage to be a winner. It starts with the unmistakable Motorola Droid look of its past pedigree, with a tough Kevlar plastic backing and they even threw in a special ballistic nylon, backpack-type material on the 64GB model. Either model is tough and well built, if not elegant in looks.

Both devices have the same display, except for size – the Droid Turbo has a 5.2-inch display versus the 6-inch display of the Nexus 6. The processor and memories are identical and we touched on them above, so let us move on to the main cameras. Motorola was never known for their cameras, but lately they are pulling out the stops and especially in the 21MP shooter of the Droid Turbo. Then add auto-focus and a dual LED flash…one on each side of the lens…and you have yourself quite a camera – certainly more megapixels than the 13MP found in the Nexus 6, although lacking the OIS. The batteries are also worlds apart, with the Droid Turbo packing a 3900mAh battery versus the 3220mAh battery found in the Nexus 6.

Design and features – the Droid Turbo is a smaller device…about .63-inch shorter and .4o-inch narrower than the Nexus 6, so if size is important, you may want to take note. Besides the usual things we mention above, the Droid Turbo comes with DLNA and VoLTE Calling capabilities with an OTA update coming soon. It does have a single, front-facing speaker and the Droid Turbo will come with Android 4.4.4 KitKat out of the box, NOT 5.0 Lollipop, although we would expect a quick update on this Motorola model. Another thing to consider is that the Droid Turbo is only on the Verizon network – pricing is good at $199 with a two-year contract for the 32GB Metallic Red or Black model and $249 for the 64GB Black model.

Google Nexus 6

The Google Nexus 6, also made by Motorola, carries many of its traits, only in a larger and more elegant package. The metal frame loops around the outside edge, connecting glass and a matte finished backing, curving in the back for a nice, firm grip, and almost makes the device feel smaller than it actually is, as it is larger and heavier in every way compared to the Droid Turbo.

The display falls in at 6-inches, giving you a very healthy 493 PPI compared to the 5.2-inch display and a tremendous 565 PPI on the Droid Turbo. We mentioned that the Snapdragon 805 processors and memory are identical, so that will take us to the main camera area. On the Nexus 6 we have a 13MP sensor versus the 21MP found in the Droid Turbo – both have auto-focus and a dual-LED flash, however, the Nexus 6 has a Flash Ring that encompasses the lens, and they add Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on the Nexus 6.

Motorola’s have been known for their great battery life, so the 3220mAh battery found on the Nexus 6 should be plenty for all day and then some – not as large as the monstrous 3900mAh found in the Droid Turbo, but certainly adequate. If you ever run into a low charge, with Motorola’s Turbo Charge feature – with 15 minutes of charge for 6-8 more hours of usage – then you are never far from help.

Besides the usual features, the Nexus 6 does have a pair of front-facing stereo speakers, the wireless charging, Turbo Charge, and comes in Midnight Blue and Cloud White. The Nexus 6 will be running on Android’s latest 5.0 Lollipop, so you will have immediate access to its many features, as well as knowing that you will receive the fastest updates possible. This year, the Nexus 6 will be available on all four major U.S. networks as well as at the Google Play Store. Pricing is looking good for a two-year contract at $99 and off contact a little over $500.

…And the Winner Is…

Summary

This was a tough one and probably should be a tie, but I wanted to pick one and I chose the Nexus 6 to win this comparison. It has a larger display, which I like, it also a nicer design IMHO and it will be running Android 5.0 Lollipop. The camera’s megapixels are less on the Nexus 6, but it also has that ever important OIS for better pictures. The battery is smaller, but 3220mAh is nothing to sneeze at and with Motorola’s optimization and the Snapdragon’s 805 battery management, you should easily get your full day of heavy usage. The dual front-facing stereo speakers add a nice touch for watching movies or videos or playing a game on this large display. I also like the availability on all networks, it will receive the fast upgrades to Android and the $99 price tag goes a long way as well.

Please hit us up on our Google+ Page and let us know which one of these devices you will be rocking and WHY. Would you go for the smaller display, higher PPI and larger battery capacity and camera megapixel of the Droid Turbo..as always, we would love to hear from you.